Writing and disciplined

How do you write a thesis or meeting minutes or your own personal diary in a time of busyness? The answer is for one to plan what to write and be disciplined. Even students at school need to work out their own shorter forms of writing. For students they need to take notes and sort out those notes. The notes need to be rearranged. I just did that some hours ago. I had to rearranged some lecture notes written in the 1980s. For schools and institutions there must be policies to revise, update or rewrite old courses. For scribes, it is a matter of organising your thoughts and get the big picture. Late Jack Metta told me once , "You must think of what to write and the angle of the story and the intro while waiting for the driver to take you to any event," This advice was something that I kept all those years. This is one way to write up articles and go home early.
When I joined an  NGO, my boss told me, think about the types of stories you want to gather for your newsletter. When you finish one newsletter or article start planning the next one. This all depends on how disciplined you are.

Look, look and look

Hello followers and readers.

You maybe wondering where I have been. Now I am back because the internet has been upgraded at Banz. However sometimes there are power problems that make things so slow.

I am now attending a writing and research class by Dr Bruce Renich. He reminded us last week about the importance of reading carefully and reading over and over again. This is one way where writers can get the information that they need. Sometimes we only skim and glance. However careful observation will really help us to understand the information we need.

So you readers out there. Read, read and read more to become good writers.

Writing a draft

Here at CLTC, I have often seen people struggling to write.  The problem is that they just go straight to the computer and work on their assignment, essay or documents that they want to write. I remember what one of my Journalism lecturer told me many years ago at UPNG. This particular lecturer said that if you want talk on the phone, you must make a list of what to say. This will save you time and money. Now that we have mobile phones the same principle will apply.
You will find that someone who has not done a draft or brain storm over what to write, will keep looking at the empty space and really struggling. Therefore it is important to have an outline, do brain storming and make draft copy. When you have a draft, it will save you time. As you type and carry on, you will work fast and effeciently. You may change some things as you go along but it will be helpful to have a draft.
The same thing can be done, if you are giving a speech. Some people are good at keeping mental notes while others want to have a draft of  a speech which will help them to say what they want. When there is no draft, the writer will be lost. So much time will be lost as there is lack of planning. Someone said that good writing starts in the mind. I hope you will keep draft to save time and to write effectively and effeciently. See you later. Sorry that my busyness has kept me from writing regularly on this blog.

Failure

These are some thoughts to help us keep going in tough time. I hope you will enjoy them.

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Failure doesn't mean - "You are a failure,"

It means - You have not succeeded.

 

Failure doesn't mean - "You accomplished nothing,"

It means - You have learned something.

 

Failure doesn't mean - "You have been a fool,"

It means - You had a lot of faith.

 

Failure doesn't mean - "You don't have it,"

It means - You were willing to try.

 

Failure doesn't mean - "You are inferior,"

It means - You are not perfect.

 

Failure doesn't mean - "You've wasted your life,"

It means - You have a reason to start afresh.

 

Failure doesn't mean - "You should give up,"

It means - "You must try harder.

 

Failure doesn't mean - "You'll never make it,"

It means - It will take a little longer.

 

Failure doesn't mean - "God has abandoned you,"

It means - God has a better way for you.

 

[forwarded by JR Whitby]

 

Evernote a computerised way of taking notes

Writing Therapy

There was a man who wanted to do some important things in his life. However all his plans went down the drain as he was attacked by a serious sickness. This man never gave up. He still wanted to do something worthwhile. The time spent in bed resulted in a great novel. If he was not sick there would not be a great novel for people to read. We should never give up in the midst of trials and all kinds of setbacks.
A Roman Catholic priest in PNG was ill for several months and that illness led to the PNG Tok Pisin Dictionary. We should not be discouraged in times of trial but spend that time doing something while like painting, singing, writing poems and even learning new hobbies.
My daughter was bullied by some of her class mates including a best friend of hers. That threat resulted in helping her father and mother more and more. She even memorized some Bible verses like Rom 8:31. She had to read this before she leaves for the school each day.
One simple way to start is write down things to do in your dairy or a piece of paper each night or in the morning. If you planning something then get it down on paper to clear your mind. If you want to write a book, a clan history or translate something, then do it while you have the time.
I once wrote a feature and it was not used in one of the weekly papers. I kept that same copy and send it to one of the daily papers and it was used as a feature article.
Someone sent me something that encouraged me therefore I want to share it with you.
One day a young lady was driving along with her father. They came upon a storm, and the young lady asked her father, what should I do?" He said "keep driving". Cars began to pull over to the side, the storm was getting worse.
"What should I do." The young lady asked? "Keep driving," her father replied.
On up a few feet, she noticed that eighteen wheelers were also pulling over. She told her dad, "I must pull over, I can barely see ahead. It is terrible, and everyone is pulling over!"
Her father told her, "Don't give up, just keep driving!"
Now the storm was terrible, but she never stopped driving, and soon she could see a little more clearly. After a couple of miles she was again on dry land, and the sun came out. Her father said, "Now you can pull over and get out."
She said "But why now?" He said "When you get out, look back at all the people that gave up and are still in the storm, because you never gave up your storm is now over. This is a testimony for anyone who is going through "hard times".
Just because everyone else, even the strongest, gives up. You don't have to...if you keep going, soon your storm will be over and the sun will shine upon your face again.
Happy Writing. Write one page at a time.

Cheers

Timothy Kwara
Banz
Jiwaka Province

Learning from the internet

I am back again. Last term I was teaching two ministry courses and one discipleship course. This meant that I had no time to write.I even neglected my journal writing and had no time for this blog. However I am so happy to see that I have eight followers. Never mind, I just want to share what I have been learning for the past few months.

One thing that I learn was searching the internet for information and even looking for answers on some health issues. Internet is fun and you will  get all your information at your finger tips. When I was connected some years ago I used to browse the internet all the time.

I even use the internet to read news and to read commentaries for my theological assignment. This is a great help for those who are students. Sometimes I am so busy. The only problem is that because I work in a country side and the internet is so slow at times.

Sometimes you will feel that you are hiding somewhere in the jungle and there is no time to read. Well try and contact your email buddies or go to these new social technologies like skoost and facebook. Sometimes I have seen so many people communicating with me through Skoost and I cannot confirm their request.

At times my email is full of all kinds of email. I only read those that I want to read. I delete the rest. Sometines there is hardly time to read everything. One day I decided to delete all the skoost email in my computer. When I returned after a few days my computer was full again. I kept deleting again.

I am still learning.  There are many good uses for the internet and there are bad influences as well. But always keep your eyes open and do not let this new technology control you. Keep reading and listening to news.
Therefore friends do not let this new technology control you. Learn to use them and find good things you can get out of them. Have a happy week.